26th Feb 2017

I had a relaxing morning while Simon, even though still in bed, was working on website and other stuff.  He never stops!  Anyway it was good to be at home, spending time together in a manner of fashion.   Simon left around midday and I pottered on my computer for while.  Hoping it would get slightly cooler so I could take Cuthbert out on his first cycle ride.

I decided to take him on one of my usual rides (not so usual at the moment as I've been pretty lazy :-))  Here are a few pictures from our ride.  I must say that he was a good passenger even though he wriggled around a lot.

Strapped in and ready to go!

A quick water stop overlooking Shark Island

We've got to go up there?!

Finally made it to the top!

Hydrating after a long pedal!  He loves coconut :-D

'C' for Cuthbert  ..his favourite letters!

24th Feb 2017

This last week I've been teaching an environmental course Reef Check.  The students learn about the Reef check methodology as well as to identify key indicator fish, invertebrates and substrates.  With this knowledge they can join teams and assist in underwater surveys monitoring coral reefs and take part in surveys worldwide.  It's a 4 day course and everyone who does it thoroughly enjoys it.

It's classroom from 9 - 11am every day and then we have some long dives, practicing survey methods and identification and then on the final day, we actually do a Reef Check survey which gets submitted on line.

My students  Rebekah, Warren & Julia

The girl on the right Julia, is also doing a 2 week, which might end up in a 4 week ECO internship, so after the Reef Check course, I've recently been teaching her different methods on how to transplant coral fragments.   We had a practice session on land with dead bits of coral, tying them with wire onto one of my new clam cages and then tightening them with pliers.  It's pretty tricky and took Julia quite a few goes, but she got there in the end.     That afternoon we went out to our artificial reef, Junkyard to practice underwater with bits of rubble and then when I was satisfied, I gave her 3 small bits of coral to attach which she did very well.

Rebekah & Warren need to go through this additional training as well, which means we can transplant till the cows come home :-D

Simon has been out diving everyday surveying a couple of fishing boats that were sank a few months ago to see if they are safe for other divers. They are quite deep so may be hard for regular scuba divers to access, but Simon enjoyed the exploration of somewhere new.

Then yesterday, Simon joined the Free Divers to go and complete his Advanced Freediver Course. He had started a couple of months ago, but developed a painful sinus squeeze that had halted the course midway. After that, his chest infection... so now he is fighting fit he managed to complete the requirement of diving to 20m deep with 1 breath...

14th February 2017

I LOVE YOU SIMON

XXX

Guess Who?!

11th Feb 2017

We've not long been back from Koh Samui.

  We had to got to get both our Visa's extended.  It's always nice to get off the Island.  We decided to stay for a couple of nights. Simon had found this lovely little place in Lamai which is slightly more south of the island in comparison to where we usually stay Bophut.   Each morning we got up early and made full use of the pool, it was just lovely to be by ourselves for a change.  We did a little shopping, tried out a couple of new places to eat, ventured inland a little but thought better after the hills were getting rather steep and even full throttle :-D  We didn't go to the cinema this time as there was nothing worth watching.

Cuthbert find it hard to decide what to eat at the Mexican

It was the first time Cuthbert had been away.   He thoroughly enjoyed himself, swimming, motorbike rides, restaurants.  He was living the dream

Living on the edge,no helmet!!

Catching a few rays

Simon's cold/chest infection is slowly going.  He's feeling so much better but still has a nasty cough. and his sleep has improved thankfully.

For the past couple of days, Simon has gone back to being a student. Learning both theory/ practical of how to captain a boat (Coxwain course)   Speeding up and down, frightening the life out of the other candidates  ..he's loved it the waterwork :-D

Cuthbert went along today and I've just received this picture of the newly certified Simon :-D

Captain Simon & Cuthbert

Love to all,
Jenny Wren
xxx

3rd Feb 2017

Simon's been suffering with sinus's, chest infection and now has a nasty irritating cough which keeps him awake most of the night which doesn't help when he doesn't sleep at the best of times. He's been working hard as usual and needs to rest, so thankfully he's coming home early tonight as he needs to lie down.

Last week we had a couple of friends visit from the UK, Katy & Darren.  They spent most of their time relaxing in Koh Samui and then at the end of their trip, popped over to Koh Tao to see us which was really lovely.  Luckily the weather had improved.  They stayed a couple of nights.  We went for a lovely walk to one of the view points John Suan, took them out for a try dive and had a couple of lovely meals together.  It was so good to see friends from home.

After they left, I was busy making structures for our artificial dive site 'Junkyard' and removing net from one of our deeper dive sites, Southwest Pinnacle with the help of a few recruits.